Mailing-tube.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

' T. H. GRACE.

MAILING TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented May 12, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAILING-TUBE.

sPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,7 86, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed July 9, 1902. Serial NO. 114,856. (No model.)

T0 at whom it nut/y concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HENRY GRACE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hawthorne, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mailing-Tubes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The subject of this invention is a mailingtube more particularly designed for the convenient introduction of drawings and valuable papers, their eifective securement for transmission through the mails, and their ready removal from the tube without liability to injury, after which the tube may be completely discarded.

With the above and other purposes in view the invention comprises generally a mailingtube the body portion of which is presented by a length of the required size of paperboard or composition tubing longitudinally split along one side and internally scored or channeled at the opposite side to constitute a hinge for the two semicylindricaltube-sections constituted bythe longitudinal split. By this arrangement the two semicylindrical sections can be relatively spread to permit the roll of drawing or papers to'be suitably introduced in position, after which said sections can be compactly closed upon the contents and positively so retained in a highly protective manner by a narrow but horizontal strip adhesively applied externally to the two split edge portions of the two sections. Arupturing or tearing wire lies within the split crevice and is so attached at its extreme portions that when it is desired to opensaid tube one portion or the other of the wire may be seized by the fingers and caused to completelytear the securing-strip from the contiguous edge 'p'or tions of the tube. A'longitudinally-applied adhesive strip affixed to the channeled or scored portion of the who serves to strengthen the weakened hinged portion thereof.

Inasmuch as the character of the improved mailing-tube is comparatively simple and its cost of production quite inexpensive, it is desired to throw it away after being received taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is another perspective view of said tube, the angle of perspective being varied.

The body of the improvedmailing ftulje is presented by a cylinder ofthe requiredlength of paper-board or other suitable'composition. This cylinder has a longitudinal split a along one side, while at an almost diametrically opposite point it has internally alongitudinal score or channel I), which in connection with said split divides the length of tube into two longitudinal semicylindrical sections A B, connected together at one side and having contiguous free edge portions a b at the other.

From the description thus far it will be easy to understandthat, the split at 'oneside and the hinge score or channel at that opposite permit the semicylindrical sections A B to be relatively spread or separated to enable the introduction of the roll of matter to be mailed, after which said sections can be closed upon said matter and so held bythe externally-applied adhesive strip 0, which adheres to the two contiguous free edge'portions at Z), so as to retain said sectionsf-A' B in such closed position and longitudinally cover the split presented between ,the'two free edgesof said sections. 'At its-innerside the sealing-strip G carries a longitudinallyextending wire 0, which when the strip is in position will lie in the splito, itsextreme portions 0 0 being looped to pass externally to the ends of the strip 0 and thereafter be passed through the same and be bent against the rear thereof in a return direction. By this means either of said looped ends may be seized by the fingers to enable the wire to be pulled, so as to tear the sealing-strip throughout its length and effect the liberation of the free edge portions of the sect-ions A B. Obviously the sealing-strip and its wire can be applied prior to the introduction of the matter to be mailed, which under such condition can be inserted from either end of the tube.

With a view of preventing undue weakening of the tube at the point of its hinge score or channel an externally-reinforcing strip D is applied to the tube at a point registering with said score or channel and immediately back of the same.

At the risk of repetition the fact may be emphasized that on account of its comparatively simple and inexpensive construction the improved tube can after the receipt and removal of its contents be thrown away or completely discarded.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- -1. A mailing tube or package, comprising a length of paper or composition tubing of plane surface, and one single thickness longitudinally split at one side through its Whole length and having an internal longitudinal score or channel at the opposite side, also through its whole length, a sealing-strip securing the two portions contiguous to the split, and a rupturing or tearing \vire lying in said split at the inner side of the'sealingstrip, and having its respective ends looped and engaging with the extreme portions of the sealing-strip.

2. A mailing tube or package, comprising a length of tubing of a single thickness and composed of plane-surfaced material longitudinally split through its whole length at one side and provided With an internal hinge channel or score at the opposite side, and also extending through the whole length leaving the external tube-surface immediately back of the same intact, a reinforcing-strip secured to said intact surface, a sealing-strip securing the two portions contiguous to the split, and a rupturing or tearing Wire lying in said split, at the inner side of the sealing-strip, and having its respective ends looped and engaging with the extreme portions of the sealing-strip.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 16th day of April, 1902.

THOMAS HENRY GRACE.

\Vi t n esses:

t M rs. WM. OXER,

WM. R. OXER. 

